SAMOA, TUVALU, VANUATU AND THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

I can finally comment my last weeks in Polynesia and Melanesia even my memory is not very fresh anymore especially when thinking the quantity of red wine consumed.
On Feb.11. I flew to Faleolo, the Samoan capital, a boring place filled up with all kind of churches of different Christian movements. I spent my days mainly sitting in the bar of my Hotel Millenia with red wine bottles looking beautiful views to the sea. I could not use my laptop, my phone did not work there because of Fiji SIM -card,  and then came the big bang ..... my Visa card was cancelled, my Diner's was not accepted in Samoa, and I was practically out of money. I called from the hotel phone to Visa Finland, and they told me that even I had not lost my card someone was using it happily in NEW YORK ! They sent me via ATM then as much I needed to get back to Fiji, where I could use my Diner's. I then spent 3 nights in Suva in Holiday Inn. In the second evening was invited to hotels cocktail party, where I was introduced to two fellow Finns, technicians from Wärtsilä working there for 4 months.  On Feb.18 I flew to Funafuti a tiny village but the capital of Tuvalu. There was no possibility to do anything because the stormy sea, heavy rains and strong winds, just at the same time when the cyclone Winston , the strongest ever,  hit Fiji badly,  leaving 49 people dead. There was a small grocery near by, where I could get inexpensive Australian wine. I drank 9 liters of wine, some beers, read a book and made crosswords with me in 4 days. People there were most nice and friendly.
When I wanted to leave my very primitive lodge Afelita ,with 5 guest rooms, to a quite same standard   restaurant 2km away, lady Afelita, the owner said, wait a minute I'll ask my daughter to drive you there. So I sat behind her back on her motorbike, and she brought me safely to that place. When I then some hours later asked for a taxi , the young woman in the bar said that she cannot remember taxi's number, but do not worry I'll drive you back. So I sat on the back of a motor bike again and she refused to take any money for the ride. On Feb.23. I was in Fiji again, this time at Novotel Resort in Suva for 3nights. On Feb.26. I was in Vanuatu at the most perfect place on this trip until now. The resort Vanuatu Beachfront Apartments was ideal, and I was the only guest. On a lagoon finest sandy beach, calm and clear sea 20 meters, the pool and the bar only some steps from my sea view room.    
The capital Port Vila was most picturesque and pleasant small town in South Seas I have seen, and luckily they had recovered very well of last years cyclone. On Feb. 29 I was once again Fiji for one night to get to Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands on Guadalcanal Island. This was the place of heaviest fights during WWII for 6 months, when americans finally 1943 won the Japanese troops.